CVE-2026-21500 is a vulnerability identified in the iccDEV library, which is developed by the InternationalColorConsortium to handle ICC color management profiles. The issue arises from improper input validation (CWE-20) in the XML calculator macro expansion component, leading to a stack-based buffer overflow. This overflow can cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably, resulting in a denial of service (availability impact). The vulnerability affects all versions of iccDEV prior to 2.3.1.2 and requires local access with user interaction to trigger, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:L/PR:N/UI:R). The CVSS score of 5.5 reflects a medium severity level, primarily due to the limited attack vector and lack of confidentiality or integrity impact. The vulnerability is related to several CWEs including CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption), CWE-674 (Uncontrolled Recursion), and CWE-1119 (Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions). No public exploits have been reported, and the issue was patched in version 2.3.1.2. The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with local access to cause application crashes, potentially disrupting workflows that rely on iccDEV for color profile management.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-21500 is the potential for denial of service in systems that utilize iccDEV for ICC color profile management. This could disrupt digital media production, printing services, and any workflows dependent on accurate color management, leading to operational downtime and productivity loss. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, the risk of remote exploitation is low, but insider threats or compromised user accounts could trigger the issue. There is no direct impact on confidentiality or data integrity, so data breaches are unlikely. However, availability disruptions in critical design or printing environments could have financial and reputational consequences, especially for companies in media, advertising, and manufacturing sectors that rely heavily on color accuracy. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for prompt patching.

1. Upgrade iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 or later immediately to apply the official patch addressing the stack overflow vulnerability. 2. Restrict local access to systems running iccDEV to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of exploitation via local user interaction. 3. Implement strict user privilege management and monitoring to detect unusual activities that could indicate attempts to exploit the vulnerability. 4. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to prevent unauthorized execution of malicious inputs or scripts targeting iccDEV. 5. Conduct regular audits of software versions and dependencies in digital media and printing environments to ensure timely patching. 6. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted XML files or macros that could trigger the vulnerability. 7. Monitor system logs and application behavior for crashes or anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts.